Who Do You Think You Are?

The man who walked 5000 miles. While serving in the Mormon Battalion, Robert Harris, Jr. walked from Council Bluffs, Iowa, to Mexico and Southern California. He was released in Los Angles in 1847 then traveled via the Fort Hall route into the Salt Lake Valley, arriving in October. Not finding his family, he continued on to Council Bluffs, arriving in Mid December. On the trip from the Salt Lake Valley to Council Bluffs he nearly starved to death. As an answer to prayer, a flock of wild turkeys flew into his camp, saving him and his companions. He was delivering a mule from one of the Battalion men, a close friend, to the man's wife in Winter Quarters. Despite nearly starving, he and the other men did not eat the mule.

Robert Harris was born 16 December 1807 in Hucclescote, England, the son of Robert Harris, Sr. and Sarah Oakey. He had 2 older brothers and 2 younger sisters. His father was a butcher so that is the trade Robert adopted. The family moved to Deerhurst shortly after his birth. As a young man Robert loved to fight bare-fisted at the county fairs. His sister, Elizabeth, was his biggest fan.

His eventual wife, Hannah Maria Eagles, was born 10 June 1817 in Apperley, Gloucestershire, England. Her parents were Thomas Eagles and Ann Sparks. She had 3 living brothers and 3 living sisters. Robert & Maria were married 18 March 1835 by their Methodist minister.

Their conversion. Sometime after their marriage they converted to the United Brethren Church. They were members when Elder Wilfred Woodruff arrived in England and did missionary work in the Malvern Hills area where Robert & Maria were living. Robert's sister Elizabeth & her husband Daniel Browett joined the Church immediately, but Robert resisted and actually was angry when he found Elder Woodruff teaching a group of people in his home. He tried to throw Woodruff out but the Spirit overcame him and he was baptized in April a few days after Maria.

A company of Saints sailed from England to America on February 1841 on the Ship Echo. The ship was blown off course during the voyage and they arrived in New Orleans 2 weeks late. A steamboat was secured for passage up the Mississippi to Nauvoo and they arrived in Nauvoo. Robert and Maria bought a lot in Nauvoo next to Elizabeth and Daniel. He eventually owned 3 lots, so may have moved 2 times. Maria received her patriarchal blessing from Hyrum Smith, and Robert received his 3 months later. Robert helped work on the Nauvoo Temple and they received their endowments in the Nauvoo Temple.

Robert and Daniel enlisted in the Mormon Battalion on 16 July 1846. They walked to Mexico then to San Diego, Los Angeles, Sacramento, and finally to the Salt Lake Valley. Robert and Daniel were released from the Battalion on 16 July 1847 in Los Angeles. As they traveled north to the Sacramento area but as they were progressing went toward the Salt Lake Valley, Brigham Young sent word that half the Battalion members should stay and work. Daniel stayed and Robert continued, taking a route through Fort Hall and into the Salt Lake Valley, expecting to find his family. They had not made it so Robert and several other man immediately left for Winter Quarters, arriving there in mid-December after many hardships and nearly starving.

He found his family living in Winter Quarters and soon moved them to Council Point, Iowa, where they lived until they came in Utah in 1850. After working for nearly 2 years in the area, Robert finally accumulated enough to buy a team and a wagon and brought his family to the Salt Lake Valley in 1850 in the Aaron Johnson Company.

They lived in Kaysville, Utah, where many of Robert's friends from England settled. Robert helped work on the Salt Lake Temple on a regular basis. Robert & Maria had a total of 15 children, 13 of whom lived & married. In 1857, Robert & Maria had their sealing repeated in the Salt Lake Endowment House (They were also sealed by Orson Hyde while living in Council Point, Iowa). During this time Robert had advanced in rank of Captain in the Utah Militia. He was active in building walls and trenches in Echo Canyon to help defend Salt Lake Valley against an advancing U S Army of 2,500 men sent to put down the so-called "Mormon Rebellion."

Robert & Maria lived out their days in Kaysville. Robert died 29 June 1876 in Kaysille & Wilford Woodruff spoke at his funeral. Maria died 29 September 1888 in Portage. They are buried together in Kaysville. They had 132 grandchildren.

This Robert & Maria Harris are my 4th great grandparents. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading more about their lives, their hardships, struggles, & stories of how they came to this blessed land together & how they have blessed so many generations with their rich heritage. If it weren't for Maria & her being able to feel of the spirit & know that there truly was something to what Elder Woodruff was teaching, and her strong will to do what was right, then who knows where all of these many generations later would have been. How thankful I am for their sacrifice & willingness to struggle & follow the council of our prophets. Through them, we have truly been blessed.

As a side note, I think that I have learned a little as to where my strong will comes from, and because of them I am very thankful that I am this way. I have been able to gain some insight on Who I am & Who I need to be. Now, the questions is, Who are you?